New Delhi: A sharp deterioration in air quality following Diwali celebrations has left several parts of North India under a thick blanket of smog, with Delhi recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 371 on Monday morning.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's average AQI stood at 376 on Diwali, November 8, making it the capital's most polluted Diwali in five years. The reading fell marginally to 371 by 10 am on Monday, but remained in the 'very poor' category.
The post-Diwali reading was also the highest recorded for the day after the festival since 2021, when Delhi's Diwali-day AQI reached 382.
Of the capital's 51 monitoring stations reporting data on Monday morning, 14 recorded 'severe' air quality, while 33 were in the 'very poor' category and four reported 'poor' conditions. Delhi Technological University's monitoring station recorded the highest AQI at 439.
The deterioration was not confined to the national capital. Several cities in Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh also reported very poor or severe air quality, raising concerns about the health impact of prolonged exposure to polluted air.
The pollution extended across western Uttar Pradesh, where several cities reported very poor air quality and some localities in Ghaziabad, Meerut, and Saharanpur entered the severe category.
According to the 24-hour average readings reported by the CPCB up to 4 pm on Monday, Noida recorded an AQI of 332, Ghaziabad 324 and Baghpat 305. Bulandshahr stood at 303, while Muzaffarnagar recorded 225, Meerut 269, Shamli 275 and Hapur 202.
Other major cities also reported elevated pollution levels. Lucknow recorded an AQI of 245, Kanpur 221, Prayagraj 241, Varanasi 274 and Gorakhpur 261.
The situation was not equally severe across the state. Bareilly recorded an AQI of 102, while Vrindavan stood at 110. Fatehabad, Pratapgarh and Jhansi recorded readings of 138, 141 and 144 respectively.
Doctors in Meerut reported an increase in patients experiencing breathing difficulties, asthma symptoms, throat infections and eye irritation following the festival.
In Ghaziabad, municipal authorities stepped up mechanical road sweeping, water sprinkling, and dust-control operations at identified pollution hotspots, City Health Officer Mitlesh Kumar said.
Several cities in Haryana also recorded very poor air quality, with some approaching the severe category.
According to CPCB's 24-hour average readings, Bahadurgarh recorded an AQI of 400, while Charkhi Dadri stood at 389 and Rohtak at 378.
Other readings included Gurugram at 345, Manesar at 333, Faridabad at 350, Ballabhgarh at 316, Bhiwani at 340, Kaithal at 347 and Narnaul at 305.
The Tribune's November 9 report also identified Bahadurgarh and Charkhi Dadri among the most polluted cities in the country based on the CPCB's daily readings.
Residents reported discomfort while stepping outdoors. Gurugram resident Praveen Bhardwaj said he experienced eye irritation and breathing difficulties when he left home on Monday morning.
He said the deteriorating conditions had forced him to reconsider his regular morning walks.
Another resident, Ashok Yadav, called for concrete measures on the ground rather than administrative directives alone.
In Punjab, Jalandhar and Mandi Gobindgarh recorded AQI readings of 336, placing them in the very poor category. Ludhiana stood at 292, Amritsar at 257 and Patiala at 221, all in the poor category.
Chandigarh, which serves as the common capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded a comparatively lower AQI of 148, classified as moderate.
Firecracker emissions contributed to the deterioration in air quality during Diwali, but they were not the only source of pollution across the region.
Reuters reported on Monday that vehicle emissions, construction dust, agricultural residue burning and unfavourable weather conditions were also contributing to the accumulation of pollutants across north India. Weak winds and cooler conditions can prevent pollutants from dispersing, allowing them to remain closer to the ground.
The CPCB classifies AQI readings between 301 and 400 as very poor and those between 401 and 500 as severe. Its health guidance warns that prolonged exposure to very poor air can cause respiratory illness, while severe pollution can affect even healthy people and pose greater risks to those with existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
With pollution remaining elevated across several cities, the post-Diwali readings have renewed concerns over the enforcement of firecracker restrictions and the wider challenge of controlling seasonal air pollution.
(With inputs from PTI)